DAVOS, Switzerland — U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday inaugurated his Board of Peace, a new international body aimed at overseeing and maintaining a ceasefire in Gaza, despite the absence of many top U.S. allies. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump framed the initiative as a global effort, suggesting it could one day rival the United Nations in scope.
“This isn’t the United States, this is for the world,” Trump said, adding that the board’s mandate could expand to other conflicts as successes in Gaza are achieved.
The Board of Peace, initially envisioned as a small group of world leaders, has grown into a more ambitious body, raising questions about its membership and legitimacy. While Trump claimed that 59 countries had signed on, only 19 countries’ representatives, plus the U.S., were present at Thursday’s event.
Ali Shaath, head of a new technocratic administration in Gaza, announced that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will reopen next week, under the oversight of the Palestinian committee managing the territory in coordination with the U.S.
Trump has suggested that the Board of Peace could eventually replace some functions of the U.N., but emphasized collaboration with the organization during side remarks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that several countries are still consulting their parliaments before committing to membership, while others have expressed interest despite not being formally invited.
Key nations, including France, Norway, Sweden, Canada, China, Ukraine, and the European Union’s executive arm, have declined or deferred participation, citing concerns about the board undermining the U.N. or the inclusion of authoritarian leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated he is consulting with strategic partners and plans to discuss a $1 billion humanitarian contribution to the board with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s participation after earlier questioning the composition of the overseeing committee. The initiative comes months after Gaza’s ceasefire, as the region’s 2 million residents continue to face humanitarian challenges. Central to sustaining the truce is Hamas’s disarmament, which the militant group has refused, and which Israel regards as non-negotiable. Trump reiterated that Hamas must comply or face severe consequences.
Trump also highlighted his broader foreign policy efforts, including recent pressure on Iran to halt planned executions of protesters and his continued attempts to mediate the nearly four-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine. During Davos, he held a closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, describing the discussion as “very good” but noting no major breakthroughs.
Despite limited attendance and lingering skepticism from some allies, Trump positioned the Board of Peace as a bold, U.S.-led initiative intended to stabilize Gaza and potentially set a precedent for global conflict resolution.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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